4


Now at a forest somewhere in the middle of what seemed like hell was the resting

place of all fallen men. Months had passed, how many, I was not sure, I had now come to

put that I was in reality a creature of the night. I took the new life I had received very

seriously. That night, vigorous training would occur, and round ups. A round up was a

group that would fight the crap out of one other until there was only one remaining. I was

part of many round ups, along with many other boys all my age. We would fight,

sometimes to the death. I was the only one at first who did not develop wings, but

somehow I manage to stay alive. My trainer was Gregory, a powerful one, him and me

surprisingly got along quite well. I would tell him about Amelia and what life was like

before you become a parasite of blood. Unlike me who was forced into vampirism, he was

born among two, but the females were banished from the race. My pre-trainer was the

hardest on me; he would work me until I could not see straight or stand properly. I stayed

up during the day and would just think. My training would last four years and I would

have to survive if I wanted to see anything again besides dieing creature and bloodstained

skin.  
YEAR ONE

This year we trained during the winter. Cold yet that was all you felt was cold so

you did not notice. Why we they were training us we did not know, some say they do this

to kill us slowly and then eat the bodies, others said it was just because they were board,

but I though it was different then that it was more important then that. It was about one o


clock in the morning all of us, all the boys were lined up in single file. Some younger

some older. The boy standing next to me only appeared 14, terror in his eyes as he held a

locket in his hands while he shook.

“ What’s that.”? I asked pointing at the object. He looked at me as if I was crazy to

speak to him. His worn out eyes seemed tired as his red jacket looked as if he had sent it

through a cement mixer with bricks. His blues jeans came to his knees and his feet showed

bare. Blonde hair covered his hear and a weak frame shaped his figure.  

“ It was a gift from my girlfriend, it has a picture of her inside.” I responded

shyly. I could not help but smile as a thought of Amelia came in to my head. The leader

of the whole clan walked up and down the row giving each of us a deadly look. He came

to me for the second time spitting at my feet saying I was worthless, I wanted to wrack

him in the face but did dent. He walked to the kid next to me and stared at him for the

longest time. The leader gave him a grim smile taking his hand and running it through

the boy’s body. I stared in shock at the sight. The leader looked at me as if the next time

I would fall asleep I would have the same fate.

“ All right you wooseys, you are all going to end up like him except for one and

one only,” he walked slowly up and down the line once more, “ so I suggest you screw

friends, and worry about your own lives, because here you can’t be saved. God does not

exist, “ he stooped in front of us at about the middle, “ you will fight to get into the

group if you don’t you will be dealt with, in other words if your fellow men don’t kill

you or inner self will.” Whispers filled the weather. “ Silence!” he yelled, “ you will all

obey every single rule, and you will not run.” He backed away, “ you will all race

through  the woods, avoiding any obstacles in your way, there are 50 of you, but only 30

will stay, either you come last to finish or you don’t come at all, but the sun will eat you

alive, avoid this by being one of the first 30.” He walked over to an official and nodded.  

“ On my mark… go!” the voice of the official echoed through everyone. About

15 took off into the air; the rest ran, I being one of them. One of the fliers fell to the

snow, as shot with steaks a wooden board shot into the heart. Continuing to run I jumped

over the ledge and my feet made a splash in the shallow creek. Others jumped over to the

other side. Taking a breath I ran farther and farther until I was stopped by a fellow

vampire. Fury in his eyes he held a dagger, gulping he charged, I dodged; jumping

against the wall I managed to punch him in the stomach.  He tumbled to the ground, I

felt as if I just broke my hand into pieces. I ran again blindly now hoping I did not run

into something or someone. Just then, I was thorn into the icy texture of the ground,

being beaten by something, it screeched in my sensitive ears. I pushed it off with m feet,

and ran once again; I was now in an open field of frozen water, a lake. Black shadows

surrounded me all wanting to rip my in small pieces. Standing in the middle, I almost felt

that I was done for.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I took a breath. 5, five surrounded me all peeking

eyes through me. They all charged, number 4 was to my right received a kick with my

leg. Swinging the same leg in front, I manage a direct hit to number 1 stomach; swerving

quickly I punched numbers two and three leaving number 5. I jumped high and spun and

than kicked hi in the face. Number 3 came running to me again along with number 1;

number 1 seemed to have sprouted wings, featured wings? Confused they slugged me in

the side of the head; falling to the ground, I slid across the lake my back facing its icy

face. Number 4 pounced on me hoping to crush my lungs; refusing I sprung him from

my body using my legs. Once again surrounded a crack shot across the ice layered fresh

water and took my foot down along with number 4’s body. 1,2,3 and 5 all came at me

and pushed me under the water. The frozen slated water coursed through my insides, and

causing my to jerk. Being so cold if the water did not surround me I still would

Trying to come back up I found nothing but a thick wall of hoarfrost blocking me from

the upper part of the world. Falling to the dept of the lake I panicked, I then realized this

was better I would go through no more pain. Amelia wiped through my head; I had to

just for her. My heart pounded my body screeched with hurt, as my inner self ached for

my love. Soon all the pain rushed to my back and tingled my spinal cord; my shoulder

blades beat with pressure. Hitting the bottom of the lake the wet soil formed around me

in the image of smoke. Being sucked into my mind I stood in a dark room with nothing

but myself and I. still cold surrounded me but caring enough to let me move, but I found

my feet glued to the floor. Pleasant memories seeped into my sight, except now they

were devastating. Love now hurt, and happiness burned your body. Amelia’s face now

hurt, friends hurt, and everything that was once good to me hurt. My back clanged, as

my shoulders seemed to grow increasingly in agony. The continuous pain made them

ring more and more.  A tare succeeded in slicing down my side, followed by an added

gashing across my shoulders. Softness slid the wholes in my flesh and then lay fanned

out across the wet dirt. Receding from my mind I decided to give up to admit defeat and

die, until my left side broke out, a crack ad then another soft sensation slid from my bony

blade. A sudden urge of power leapt through me as I stood against the pressure of the

water; I jumped the back of my neck hit the hard ice, flung into the air I chocked on my

breath, so pleased that I had not yet died. Falling I hit the ground blood spilling onto the

snow, but I was unaware from where it came. I stood taking in deep quick breaths.

Turning my head I saw to feathered wings the shade of midnight black. Wings? Both of

them dripping with my insides, a chunk of skin fell from one of them. I shook my

shoulders up and down a gusting to the extra weight; flesh slid to the gape of my neck

and then off top the ground, trickles of blood seeped off my cheeks. For once I felt cold,

and merciless. I had no further time to marvel at my new addition to the vampire body. I

ran and once gain there was a problem, my new  feather friends seemed to trip me. I

could not fly for I knew not how.

I guess in my position I had no choice, I hopped once and made it 10 feet from the

ground. The 10 feet soon reached 20 feet then 30. I spotted the five people who

happened to have been thrown into the same state the number one was now in. I flew

over them quite hauntingly they all froze as I swept over them. I knew there were still

many obstacles to over come. About 10 miles of flight passed the amazing sensation of

the air running against your face made you feel on top of the world, well, that idea was

struck when a wooden stake flashed by just barley missing my head. I proceed to move

faster I had gone another 10 yards when a much larger flier almost floated in front of me.

His large brad shoulders supported a head that a woman would die for. Blue eyes high

cheekbones and a smooth skin. His brown hair was pulled back more then likely from all

the sweat that dripped off his chin. I felt a sudden roar rumble within my chest I had to

clench my teeth so as not to make the man angry about my threat. I took my first instinct

and plunged down into the trees below. I hit the ground and slid across the snow I felt

like such an idiot all I could think is that is I was dumb enough to do that then my mid

term result must have been WAY below average. I stood shaking the ice from my

shoulders. My wings were beginning to become quite a burden if I flew I would be shot

down and if I would run I would trip with the black bloody things in-between my

shoulder blades.  Without my knowing another gash appeared on my side; stinging for

the longest time I felt force on my features as they disappeared into my shoulders.

“That’s convenient.” Those were the last words that would escape my mouth for a long time for when I turned around…






…A piece of wood hurdled into my neck piercing the inside of my throat. My jaw

bolted together trying to conflict with the pain. Breathing became a type of poison the

never wore off, it would eat you from the outside- in as I fire’s flames do with lumber. If

I had known that my final words were those, I would have chosen so many other things

to say, so many other things. I reached my hand to the wood and jerked it from my

esophagus. I had learned something else about the vampire’s body structure… the

wooden splinter had become a part of me within the short time it cut off my airways. I

had yanked out a part of me in separating the wood from my skin. I could once breath

again but no words ever escaped my mouth from that point on. So with that ordeal

finished I was about to start the run again, how many times I have tried to finish seemed

endless, but I would go on, I would survive just to see her one more time. The sun it

began to raise a sudden jump inside my heart made me cringe. All I could do is run. Run

and run and run, that became me, a way of existing. Finally I saw it the end of this road,

I could see Greg my trainer standing their patting one vampire on the back, as veins

spilled from his mouth. I almost had to look away but the thought of not being one of the

first to arrive made me shutter. The numbers went through my head

1…10…15…25…28…29… I took my last step, falling just before the finish line. I knew

that I could not make it I had no more strength no more desire and no more faith all was

gone, all. Then every part of what I saw went black.

I awoke to the shrill freezing of cold water being splashed onto my face. I jumped

up inhaling and exhaling into the air.  

“Hey you got lucky you were the last one you idiot.” I herd an almost perfect

voice chuckle into my head. I could not see straight, the entire world was spinning. It felt

as if I was slamming into walls and drowning in the deepest oceans. I tried to nod in

response but I felt my head hit the floor once again crushing the wet snow beneath me.

The voice laughed again. After hearing, that one pleasant sound I drifted back into the

darkness of somber.

When I awoke again, it seemed as if years had passed. I was once again in the

dark chamber of the holding cabins. My head was throbbing, and my lips ached for the

red liquid that I had to survive on. I could tell I was on a lower bunk, that sixth sense that

came with being a vampire told me that much. I moved my hand forward thinking to

touch wood, but as my fingertips had placed themselves on the surface, I froze. My hand

touched what felt like a cheek, I cold dead cheek. I tried looking at it but I could not; I

blinked concentrating hard on what I wanted to gaze upon. Finally, I could see, I saw

something I wish I had not seen. Amelia? My heart jerked, a trickle of her blood fell on

my eyelid; it moved down farther dripping off my lashes. My hand slithered down her

cheek to her neck looking for some means of life. Nothing.

“Amelia?” my voice was strange even to me as I spoke the name of my love,

”Amelia.” I tried again, nothing. My hands went to her shoulder pulling her gently down

from the bed frame. I laid her on my chest just hoping to hear anything at all that would

tell me she was alive. I rubbed her lifeless body gently with the new nails that grew from

my fingers. I rolled on my side taking her with me. “Amelia.” I was going to loose it

soon I could just feel myself about to snap into pieces. “Come on Amelia don’t do this to

me anything but this, complain about my room being to messy or say I’m a jerk because

I forgot your birthday, please anything but this.” I wanted to scream but I had no

intension of attracting eyes on my panicking form. Her cold face was resting on my

upper arm lifeless eyes looking at me. My breaking point was coming soon, “ ok come

on Amelia… what do I have to call you by all of those silly nicknames or something?” I

was trying to make myself calm down; I was talking to a corpse, but I continued to

speak, unfortunately my voice becoming louder and louder growing in volume,” ok Amy

I have had enough of this just open your eyes and say something.” I had never in my life

called her Amy, never. I was quiet for a moment when I herd shuffling in the bunk just

above me. I looked around slowly, when I reached out and pulled my foot from

underneath my Weight and Amelia’s.  I put it on the floor bringing my self from under

the top bed. I left her body in the bunk trying hard not to think about her. All attempts

failed, ”Amelia?” her name slipped past my lips and into the room. I was trembling

underneath my own mind.  My wings sprouted from my back I encircled them around

me trying to hide myself from the horrible world around my now weeping form. I stayed

there until I was disturbed by a beyond freezing hand on my shoulder.

“What on hell are you doing?” an angelic voice demanded of me. I looked at him

bring my face from my features and to his face.

“Oh you know, crying for no reason at all, just for fun…” I responded with the

full hope of sarcasm in my voice. I saw him grimace as his once smiling features

disappeared behind a disappointed frown.

“Grab your girlfriend and give her to me.” He commanded in a voice that was

hard to disobey. I stood in a defensive position blocking him from her still dead form. I

rumble of a growl rolled in my stomach, I had no want to go against him, but I was not

letting him come anywhere near the one thing that kept me striving everyday. His

eyebrows were making his eyes seem intending mad. “ I will not harm her you have my

word.” His voice was further than persuasive. I looked back at the bed and then at him

stepping to the side. He nodded to me in approval. I watched him closely ready to

strangle his perfect neck if I rejected anything he was doing. His large black over coat

contrasted with his snow-white skin. As sleek red hair cover his head, it extended all the

way down his back and then into ponytail. How in the hell does he pull that off? Was one

of things running through my mind. He reached into the pocket of his ripped baggy dark

jeans revealing a needle. I let out a hiss in worry and anger. He looked back at me raising

an eyebrow ever so slightly.

“What do you want boy?” he asked in a frustrated tone,” do you want her to

perish or live?” I stopped my threat of air and stood back biting the tip of my lip. He

picked up her arm and pushed the liquid into her veins.

Nothing happened at first. She stayed silent not moving. The needle was pulled

out, and Angel stepped to the side almost as he was waiting for something.

“Pull your wings in,” he commanded. I looked at him curious; but doing as I was

told. “ This sun is about to set, prepare for the next step in training.”

“But what about her?” I asked worried.

“She will be here when you return,” he glanced at me almost annoyed. I began to

head for the door stopping at it’s edge when Greg did not follow.

“You coming?” I was looking at Amelia

“No Ralston is your trainer today.” My heart froze. Not the pre-trainer anything

but him.

“Oh…ok” I tried to sound firm but failed horribly. I walked away, outside now I

glanced around seeing others come from their cabins as well.  We all marched slowly to

the front lines; where the leader stood, waiting. We all lined up one of the members

being pushed to the ground. His head cracked the hard ice. He stood up and scrambled to

place in assembly.

“ Ok you women!” the leader yelled, “ 30 of you made it, how some of you did I

will never know!”  He flickered his eyes at me swiftly. “ Training will not continue

today, but only 23 of you will make it, to see tomorrow!”  A wooden plank shot for the

blood sucker next to me. It went through his head taking his life with it.  I swallowed

hard;” only six more to go…” he yelled again, “ I will call your name you will come

behind me when you are called!” he walked up and down the line. The list began…”

Christopher!” the small short boy walked up to him. His large red wings sagged in the

snow. He continued to walked behind him and then stopped.

“Jackson, Thomas, Zechariah, and Jason!” we walked to him. I counted us all, six,

the number of those who would die. “ All of you will be dealt with so take one last look

at the moon!” he snickered. “ Ok… all you others… “ He paused talking to the 23 that

remained. “ rip them to shreds.” my eyes widened. All six of us were doomed. They

came at us; I jumped into the air letting my wings carry me. When I herd Greg.

“You stupid girl what do you think you are going?!” I looked down to see him. I

saw him holding Amelia back with his iron bars he called arms.

“Get your hands off me!” she yelled. Amelia? A vampire swooped taking portion

of fleshy tissue away with his teeth. I lost track of time. The horrid bite was growing in

agony; taking my hand, I shoved the bloodsucker from my skin. I placed my trembling

hand on the dry gash. “let go you creep!” Amelia screamed again; I wanted to dive in the

air just so I could be closer to her.

“Amelia!” I had to call her name; it was stupid, beyond stupid. The leader gazed

at her, burning in his eyes. Gregory grew a frightful expression when he saw it; letting

go of her, she ran in the direction of the quarrel, tripping and all eyes’ shot to her.  My

heart stopped.

“What do you monsters want!?” she screamed; sucking in my breath as she

threatened a force much larger then the city I once lived in. I acted without thinking;

landing on the snow my wings went into my body. Amelia finally started back down the

hill falling again. I had to push past at least ten people, until I reached her.  “Jason?!” her

eyes widened tears swelling in them,” Jason you alive!” she yelled again jumping and

wrapping her small arms around my neck. I instinctively returned her touch, taking my

arms around her waist, kissing the ridges of her neck, “ oh Jason where did you go? Why

did you go?” she sobbed into my shoulder. I could not answer how could I answer.  I

looked behind us realizing the entire clan stared at my back.

“Who is this?” the leader hissed in the air.

“And what’s it to you blue berry?!” Amelia yelled. I had to suppress a laugh that
was building inside of me, now noticing that the leader was extremely blue because of

the shortage of blood that we have been having lately. He stepped forward anger piercing

his face. Amelia hid under my arms away from his sight.

“Boy give her to me!” he commanded I looked away ignoring him, hearing his

bare feet crush the snow he walked on as he approached us.

“Jason.” Amelia whispered into my shoulder; I looked at her then gazing out of

my eyes into those of Gregory’s. He was messaging his temple, now looking at the

ground.  The leader had finally reached Amelia, as anger coming off him in waves, and

me.

“I’m so stupid,” I mumbled; Amelia looked up gazing at me with curiosity. I let

my wings free, grabbing Amelia and throwing her into my embrace; we were in the air.

She held onto me almost falling from the sudden shock.

“Jason what the heck are you know bird man?”  She screamed into my ear. I

laughed

“No…more like batman.”

“What?” she yelled, “ this is ridiculous. I don’t know who you are but you are not

Jason!”

“Amelia what are you talking about?”

“No what are you talking about bird man!”

“Will you stop screaming in my ear please!”

“I’ll scream all I want to thank you!”

“Oh great just what I need a wining girl in my hands!”

“Oh shut up!” it was silent after that until she looked at me, she flushed and I

smiled. “So you’re a vampire now huh?” I looked at her wondering how I would answer

such a question, she waited looking at me, “ never mind it’s just a dream I’ll wake up

later.” She let her eyes fall and drifted to my chest resting there.

“Amelia?” she glared at my as if I just disturbed her.

“Yes batman?” I rolled my eyes.

“If this is not a dream and you never wake from it.” I paused her eyes gazing at

my face, eager to hear the rest, “ would you still…”the word had a hard time coming

from my mouth, almost as if they were stuck in my throat.

“Continue” she encouraged

“Would you still love me?” she looked at me stunned

“Love you… I don’t even know you,” she stammered that hurt.

“Amelia I’m Jason I promise you I am.”

“Sorry bat man you make a good Bruce Wane, but you need work on my

boyfriend,” I sighed, very frustrated.

“How can I prove it to you?” I asked almost frustrated.“ and Stop calling me

that!” I hissed. She shrugged lower trying to hide her head from my words. “Sorry its

just… never mind.”

“So…” she hesitated,” what did you want to prove?”

“That I am indeed Jason.”

“Alright then.” She put her finger on her lips as if she was thinking of a question,”

what is my favorite band?”

“The Ramones.”

“Yes you right!” she sounded surprised.

“Ok…what’s my favorite color?”

“Green.”

“What do I like to eat?”

“Fruit mostly, not that much meat and you enjoy Italian.”

“Oh very smart. Good guesser.” I rolled my eyes again, “what’s what favorite

song?”

“Concrete angel.”

“Yes, how do you know all these things?”

“I tell you I am Jason.” We were flying lower landing smoothly. She motioned to

be let down and I did as she wanted.

“What do I like to do once a month at least?”

“Go see a movie and have a girls night out, but you sneak away from the girls and

hour into the night so you can go and find ME, “I exaggerated the word,” so I can take

you out to dinner.” She gazed at me awe struck.

“Jason?”

“Yes.” She stepped away from me fright on her face. “What?”

“No it can’t be you, not you!” she began to scream, backing up further from me, “

I want to go home.”

“Amelia what is wrong?” I stated confused and shocked. I moved toward her

putting my hand in front of me. She sat down pulling her legs to her chest rocking back

and forth.” Amelia.” I was inches away from her.” Amelia?”

“Please Jason go away!” she pleaded.

“Amelia what is wrong.” I spread the words far apart so that she would maybe
answer them. I kneeled next to her cautiously trying so hard not to scare her.

Tears began to fall from her eyes as she slowly shook her head. “Amelia you are

worrying me” I put my arm around her; she was tense, very tense.

“Jason?” she whimpered

“Yes.”

“Take me home.” She demanded quietly.

“I don’t know how to get there from here.”

“Well find a way!” she shouted I sighed what did I do wrong?

“Ican help with that.” I looked to see the the leader glaring at us.

“Oh boy.” I whispered. The leader grimaced his arms folded.

“All right Jason give the girl to us, we will take her back where she belongs.” He

stated

“Not unless I go with you, when you take her.” I answered; he received a smile

that made me shudder.

“Fine boy whatever gets her out of here!” he yelled, trying to calm himself and

then he started again.” Alright pick her up and follow me.” He ordered. Amelia was

difficult calling me a monster and beyond horrifying. The words hurt me deeply. “ boy.”

The leader said as we arrived; it was day the city rustled with life. We were in the back of

a pathway just behind her house, away from the sun. Setting Amelia down she ran a little

ways away from us. “Girl if you tell anyone about us we will kill you and your missing

boyfriend.” She shuttered against the words. She nodded turning as we did. I did not look

back and then we were airborne until

“Wait.” She yelled and causing my head to turn I regretted seeing the tears roll

down her cheeks. “Come back!”  Looking back at the leader he nodded to me. I was

stunned but I would not ask another time. I set myself on the ground next to her; she

clanged onto my neck.

“I thought that you hated me?” I tried to ignore her nearness.

“I don’t hate you but you’re the closest thing that I have left of Jason.”


“I tell you that I am Jason.” She smiled at me, a gleam inside her brilliant green

eyes. Then she was on the edge of her feet pressing her warm soft lips onto my cold ones.

“ I understand now…even if your not Jason I…” she paused

“ You what?”  Tears fell further from her face.

“I love you.” That is all that I wanted to here from her. This time I brushed my

lips across her cheek setting a kiss on her eyelid. “Must you go?” she stammered as she

shook in my arms that were now around her.

“Yes.” I let go and just as light does, disappeared into the darkness. “Amelia

forget me” I saw her nod.